she's only able to, by law, really, right, to talk to... >> that's right. it's one of the complicating realities in this kind of dysfunctioningal dynamic. and as the egyptians are playing a prominent role because they're one of the few parties that can actually talk to anyone. >> brown: does president abbas have any influence of what's going on in gaza at this point? >> at this point he does not. he has been marginalized over the years. he was push out. his leadership was pushed out of gaza in 2007 by hamas which had won an election in 2006. but the situation between these two rival factions had gotten to the point where it was essentially a civil war. >> brown: there's been a lot of talk in recent days about hamas gaining influence in gaza certainly, in the region. how do you see that, what's going? >> well, there's certainly a focal point in this conflict but i would say the one who has really gained influence is egypt. here is egypt. prior to the time that the new egypt emerged in the last years of the mubarak regime was playing less and less of a role w